Using USB as audio source (not iDevice)

[rimsy]

Bought my CX-5 today and absolutely thrilled with it aside from one little thing:

I have a Galaxy S3 which i wish to use for playing audio. It works absolutely fine via Bluetooth - little bit of delay with commands from the CX-5 console to skip tracks but it works fine.
When I plug the phone in to the USB socked it starts to charge the phone as expected but the USB tab on the console remains greyed out - I've tried playing with some of the settings on the phone (turning usb debugging off etc) but the car still refuses to do anything other than charge the phone.
Is this normal? I expected to be able to listen to music from my phone via the usb cable but it doesnt seem to want to play ball...

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Yes, it isn't exactly a card reader like it would be on a computer.

 

[rimsy]

ok thanks for clarifying. expected it to work since apparantly iPhones can work this way but guess its another reason not to have an android device
is sound quality likely to suffer playing audio via BT v's aux / USB?

 

[nizzy1115]

ok thanks for clarifying. expected it to work since apparantly iPhones can work this way but guess its another reason not to have an android device
is sound quality likely to suffer playing audio via BT v's aux / USB?

I find no difference between aux or Bluetooth. Also its nice that the Bluetooth stops playing on your phone when the car turns off and starts back up where you left off when you turn the car back on again. I'm currently using the play music app with the all access pass on my android and love it.

 

[nXt]

The Galaxy S3, like newer Android phones uses MTP protocol for the USB, not USB Mass Storage like a USB Flash Drive, so it will not work.
If your Galaxy S3 is rooted, you can enable it though: http://www.androiduck.com/enable-usb-mass-storage-on-your-samsung-galaxy-s3/

And to SayNoToPistons, the USB IS a "card reader", you can put MP3 files on a USB Flash Drive and it'll read/play them.

 

[CX-5tormtrooper]

Speaking of the USB, does anyone know the maximum memory capacity for it?

I am currently using a 32GB flash drive which is the biggest one I have, but I would like to add more music than that.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

The Galaxy S3, like newer Android phones uses MTP protocol for the USB, not USB Mass Storage like a USB Flash Drive, so it will not work.
If your Galaxy S3 is rooted, you can enable it though: http://www.androiduck.com/enable-usb-mass-storage-on-your-samsung-galaxy-s3/

And to SayNoToPistons, the USB IS a "card reader", you can put MP3 files on a USB Flash Drive and it'll read/play them.

Well yes, of course the USB is used as a card reader for the typical mass storage flash drive.

 

[nizzy1115]

Speaking of the USB, does anyone know the maximum memory capacity for it?

I am currently using a 32GB flash drive which is the biggest one I have, but I would like to add more music than that.

Not sure. You might need to change the block size of 64 or 120gb drives if they aren't recognized but they should work.

 

[CX-5tormtrooper]

Not sure. You might need to change the block size of 64 or 120gb drives if they aren't recognized but they should work.

Well, just tried a 120GB SSD formatted to exFAT. The activity light would come on, but the USB option stayed grayed out.

Next up is a 64GB microSD card.

EDIT: going to reformat the SSD and give it another go.

 

[BeeteKnaughts]

Well, just tried a 120GB SSD formatted to exFAT. The activity light would come on, but the USB option stayed grayed out.

Next up is a 64GB microSD card.

EDIT: going to reformat the SSD and give it another go.

looking forward to your results. just bough a cheap 64gb usb so I'm hoping I can get that to work.

 

[nXt]

looking forward to your results. just bough a cheap 64gb usb so I'm hoping I can get that to work.

Format in FAT32 and it'll be fine.

 

[nizzy1115]

Not sure. You might need to change the block size of 64 or 120gb drives if they aren't recognized but they should work.

Well, just tried a 120GB SSD formatted to exFAT. The activity light would come on, but the USB option stayed grayed out.

Next up is a 64GB microSD card.

EDIT: going to reformat the SSD and give it another go.

Try 16k block size when you reformat it.

 

[CX-5tormtrooper]

looking forward to your results. just bough a cheap 64gb usb so I'm hoping I can get that to work.

Quick check in before going to work, the 64 microSD via USB adapter worked just fine! Through a couple of songs on there just now to try it out and they loaded and played as normal.

Format in FAT32 and it'll be fine.

Correct, used GUI Format because of Windows limitations when it comes to formatting in FAT32

Try 16k block size when you reformat it.

Thanks for the info, I all but gave up on trying to use an 120GB SSD, but I will try the 16k block size this evening. Sucks because I just sold off some 128GB SD Cards which I would have loved to try out, oh well, next time.

Cheers all!

 

[BeeteKnaughts]

Format in FAT32 and it'll be fine.

I thought I tried that before, but I'll have to try again, thanks.

 

[CX-5tormtrooper]

Okay, well, I have no other ideas on how to get an SSD to work via the USB. Tried 32 and 16 block sizes. I even tried upping the power fed to it by using a Y-USB cable.

Looks like I'll just stick with my 64gb MicroSD card until I find a great deal on a 128 USB or SDcard.